Intelligent Design, creationism are religion

In her letter (March 6), Evalyn Finney laments, “creation or intelligent design can't be taught in school, for fear of the ACLU Š”

Creationists have been granted the opportunity to demonstrate their scientific credibility in court on a number of occasions. Not surprisingly, they have a consistent record of failure. (Google “8 Major Court Decisions against Teaching Creationism as Science.”) The latest case involved a proposal by religious instigators to teach intelligent design in the Dover, Pa., school district. During this 21-day trial, the districts were allowed to present their most convincing arguments by their best and brightest spokespersons.

At the end of the trial, the judge (a conservative, Christian, Bush appointee) concluded, “We have addressed the seminal question whether ID is science. We have concluded it is not.” He wrote, “Š ID cannot uncouple itself from its creationist, and thus religious, antecedents Š” He further chided some ID proponents for their “breathtaking inanity” and for the fact that they “would time and again lie to cover their tracks and disguise the real purpose behind the ID policy.” (See www.skeptic.com/eskeptic/05-12-20.html for more details.)

Creationism and ID cannot be taught in public school science classes because they are religion, not science. The First Amendment to the Constitution prohibits the inculcation of religious beliefs in public schools. Creationists fear the ACLU for the same reason robbers fear cops.

Regarding Mrs. Finney's risible definition of evolution, someone has also defined the biblical creation of humans as: “Humus (plus heavy breathing) to humans.” (See Genesis 2:7)

JACK DeBAUN

Sandpoint